Plasticity is the quality of being easy to shape: you push it, it takes a new shape, and it stays that way until someone changes it again. Warm wax has plasticity; a stone does not.

Plasticity is the quality of being easy to shape:可塑性是容易被塑形的性質： you push it, it takes a new shape,你推它、它就變成新形狀， and it stays that way然後就一直保持那個形狀 until someone changes it again.直到有人再次改變它。Warm wax溫熱的蠟 has plasticity;有可塑性； a stone does not.石頭沒有。

Scientists also use this word a lot about the brain. They say the brain has plasticity when it can still change, make new paths, and keep learning — even after you grow up. That is the same idea, stretched: the brain is not fixed like stone.

Scientists科學家 also use this word a lot也常用這個字 about the brain.來說腦。They say他們說， when it can still change, make new paths, and keep learning當它還能改變、開出新的路徑、繼續學習 — even after you grow up.──即使在你長大之後， the brain has plasticity腦就是有可塑性。That is the same idea, stretched:這是同一個概念的延伸： the brain is not fixed like stone.腦不像石頭那樣固定不變。

In talk about metals and materials it has a tighter meaning: the stuff bends and keeps the new shape, instead of springing back.

In talk about metals and materials在談金屬和材料的時候， it has a tighter meaning:這個字的意思比較窄： the stuff bends and keeps the new shape,那個材料彎曲之後會保持新形狀， instead of springing back.而不會彈回去。

The everyday word plastic sits under all of this — not plastic as in a shopping bag, though actually that name came from the same old idea of something you can mould.

The everyday word plastic日常用的 plastic（塑膠）這個字 sits under all of this就是從這裡來的 — not plastic as in a shopping bag,──不是指購物袋那種塑膠， though actually不過其實 that name came from the same old idea of something you can mould.那個名字也是來自同一個古老的概念：可以被捏塑的東西。